Joint Post! Like an Old Married Couple

[fluffydeathdealer]

[From just outside the jungle's trees, near the mountainside, some bickering can be heard:]

Here. It's probably fresher than you'd like, but it's all we have.
...I can't eat that, Bakura.
You don't have the option to be picky, Malik!
No...I really can't, you fool!
Tch... I can cook it a bit more, but we have to be careful, or the smoke from the fire will give us away!
Ughh...can't you find some fruit? Just look up.
Do you want to die? If someone finds you while I'm out looking for fruit, you'll have worse problems than having to eat meat.
But Bakura... [Malik sounds a bit like he might be ill.] My stomach...
O-oy! Hold on a little longer, okay? I'll see if I can find something close by. I'll stay within earshot, so if someone approaches, scream.
Just get a couple...I don't need that much.
Be quiet, you idiot. You need to eat something. [He chomps down on the meat Malik refused to eat.]
Well? I can't eat anything if you don't go get something!

((ooc: So! Tags will come from both Bakura and Malik. If we're going to tag you with both on a turn we'll put a "1/2" in the subject line, otherwise it's just one at a time. Also since the two of them are injured, we just ask that nobody with magic healing powers comes along to heal them up and stuff. Thanks!

Warnings for adult content in some threads.))

Comments

[dontknowjack]

Hah! This place could have been a palace. But they converted it into a place of learning...

[His tone is honestly almost admiring.]

Once you feel better, Majesty, I would like to train with you again.

[helpusduelist]

Amazing, isn't it? What the people of this time will do...

[That gets a soft chuckle.]

I would appreciate that, Jack. I've been feeling a bit rusty, myself. And if we're to be in the middle of a blood feud, I can't afford to let my skill rust.

[Henry pushes Jack a little forward, indicating the bed. He wants to lay down for now, to actually give this leg the rest it needs.]

[dontknowjack]

It'd be unheard of, in our time... Though I can't say I'm complaining.

[Half-carrying him towards the bed, he helps him over to it without protest.]

Really... You can't seem to go anywhere without someone wanting to kill you, these days.

[helpusduelist]

Must be practice for the upcoming days.

[It then occurs to Henry that Jack doesn't know... of course not.]

The War of the Roses is over. In the end, I was shown that hiding like a common coward did nothing to help, and so I led Lancaster into battle. Richard was killed, and I was crowned just before we arrived here.

[At that, Henry nods to the desk by the bed and the crown sitting almost hidden-in-plain-sight on it.]

[dontknowjack]

I suppose a king does have many enemies...

[He's not surprised that Henry won. If anyone could do such a thing... yes, it would have to be him. It seemed like the war would never end otherwise.

Leaving Henry on the bed, he crosses over to stare at the crown, curiously. He won't touch it, of course... But he's still amused to see how it's designed to deal with Henry's hair.]

[helpusduelist]

[Henry notices that and just snorts a little.]

Go on, laugh. Everyone else did as well, and even I couldn't help it. I suppose I am quite a unique king, aren't I?

[dontknowjack]

[He grins instead, stifling a laugh behind his hands.]

I'd rather have a king that listens to his people than the most ordinary-looking of rulers.

[helpusduelist]

Or one like my father.

[There's a trace of bitterness there, along with a soft sigh. To think, the one man he once idolized had been such am honorless mongrel, unworthy of even the smallest drop of noble blood.]

[dontknowjack]

...

[That wretched man. Being reminded of him is annoying.]

Shall we dwell on less tedious things?

[helpusduelist]

Mmm.

[He closes his eyes a little, letting a hand run through his hair. The adrenaline at seeing Jack is wearing off now, making the pain in his leg more noticeable. And for some reason, it's also made him feel tired.]

...How do you feel?

[He will never stop thanking God for giving Jack another chance, but there's a park of him that fears it simply won't last.]

[dontknowjack]

Physically, I feel fine. Mentally... things have yet to fully sink in. It's like stepping from one room into another and finding you're suddenly on a boat instead of in the hall. It takes a little getting used to.

Though you'd know that as well as I.

[He looks back at Henry with a slight smile.]

[helpusduelist]

[Henry returns it with a nod, smiling gently.]

If you have any questions, I will do my best to answer them.

[dontknowjack]

There's time for that later... You look tired. I don't mind waiting for you to rest.

[As if to confirm his statement, he sits on the ground.]

[helpusduelist]

Heh. I've felt that way since that duel ended. At least make yourself a bit more comfortable. The dorm a door over should be empty, and there are spare blankets and such on the beds.

[dontknowjack]

I'll make sure you never have to feel this way again.

[With that layered threat to Henry's enemies left behind, he rose to his feet, bowing his head formally, and left for a few minutes, coming back with pillows and blankets.

...he may or may not be making a little bed of his own on the floor.]

[helpusduelist]

[Henry notes that, and wishes there was a way to uproot one of the beds from the other dorms. He'd be more than happy to put whatever work in to get some more comfort for Jack, but the man was a soldier, and sleeping on carpet like this was admittedly already above the usual marches.

As it is, with him back, the king's beginning to feel a bit groggy. Heh. Only Jack or Christopher could ever make him relaxed enough for that.]

...Whether you're real or a dream that will disappear when I awaken... you still relieved me of more weight than I could ever repay you for, and I was overjoyed to speak with you again.

[dontknowjack]

[True enough. The main reason he's even bothering is because of Henry. Admittedly also because 'comfort' is a rare enough thing for a soldier... While he has it, he may as well make use of it. It's more comfort than he's known in his life, after all.]

Rest assured...

I'm real. I'll be within earshot when you wake up... no matter what happens.

[helpusduelist]

Heh... if that turns out to be a lie, I'll have words for you once we meet again in heaven.

[And with that, as simple as pouring the water out of a bucket, Henry's eyes close and his breathing evens out. With Jack so close, he had nothing to fear... and a lack of fear did wonders for one's ability to sleep.]

THE NEXT MORNING...

[dontknowjack]

[Even though he'd heard movement from outside, Jack hadn't stirred from his place during the night. There would be time to encounter those people later. For now... he was just going to keep watch.

By now everything was quiet once more. Half asleep still, he watches the bed with half-lidded eyes, wondering how long Henry plans to sleep. It feels like he's been sleeping forever.]

[helpusduelist]

[For Henry, it might as well have been. Being restless and pained, sleep was not something that had come very easily to him lately; with Jack's presence, the anxiety had melted away, and his body was simply trying to catch up with what it had missed out on.

As it is, he looks surprisingly peaceful, even mostly tangled in the sheets as he is. It couldn't have been the most comfortable to sleep in that armor all night, but that was something that could be addressed once he awoke.

And it's some time after Jack does that he follows suit.]

...Mm...

[Henry shifts a little, winces at the soreness, and sighs.]

[dontknowjack]

Good morning, Your Majesty.

[Jack half-drawls the words out with the leisurely style of someone who feels rather more relaxed than they should. Though he's prepared for anything, that sleep did him good - once he managed to sleep at all. He's not used to comfort. It was almost worse trying to sleep in a comfortable state than an uncomfortable one.]

[helpusduelist]

[His voice alone causes a smile to spread across Henry's face as he sits up, stretching.]

Good morning, Jack.

[So it hadn't been a taunting dream. It was real... he makes a mental note to be sure to thank the Lord for that, later.]

[dontknowjack]

[Jack really regrets sleeping in his armor.

But at least the discomfort meant it was more 'normal' to him.]

You look a lot better.

[helpusduelist]

It helps when I can sleep without waking up at every little leaf that brushes the window.

[Henry runs his fingers along the belts of his armor with a sigh. He really should have taken them off.]

You seem rested as well. Even despite the interesting sleepwear.

[It's a gentle jab, but it's proof that Henry is feeling a bit more in line with his old self.]

[dontknowjack]

[Jack laughs a little at that, shoulders shaking helplessly.]

Old habits die hard... I had to be prepared for anything.